Connector assembly for an upright shaft of a beach umbrella

Abstract

A connector assembly for an upright shaft of a beach umbrella, includes first and second stem members and a tubular connecting member. The upright shaft portion includes a lower shaft portion and a hollow upper shaft portion. The lower shaft portion extends in an axial direction and is provided with an upwardly opened annular end portion. The upwardly opened annular end portion has a first inner annular wall with a first dimension. The upper shaft portion is provided with a downwardly opened annular end portion which can brought in the axial direction to connect with the upwardly opened annular end portion. The downwardly opened annular end portion has a second inner annular wall with a second dimension. The first and second stem members have first lower and upper stem portions press-fitted into the upwardly and downwardly opened end portions of the lower and upper shaft portions. The tubular connecting member has upper and lower threaded inner circumferential walls to engage threadedly first and second threaded outer circumferences of the first and second stem members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An umbrella shaft comprising: a lower shaft portion extending in an axial direction and adapted to be secured to a support, said lower shaft portion being provided with an upwardly opening annular end that has a first inner annular wall with a first dimension;   an upper shaft portion having an upper hollow shaft section adapted to carry a stretchable canopy and provided with a downwardly opening annular end to be brought in the axial direction to connect with the upwardly opening annular end, said downwardly opening annular end having a second inner annular wall with a second dimension; and a connector assembly including   a first stem member having a first lower stem portion with a first outer circumference of a third dimension which is slightly larger than the first dimension so that said first lower stem portion will engage firmly said first inner annular wall once said first lower stem portion is inserted into said upwardly opening annular end along the axial direction, and a first upper stem portion with a first threaded outer circumference,   a second stem member having a second lower stem portion with a second threaded outer circumference, and a second upper stem portion with a second outer circumference of a fourth dimension which is slightly larger than the second dimension so that said second upper stem portion will engage firmly said second inner annular wall once said upper stem portion is inserted into said downwardly opening annular end along the axial direction, and   a tubular connecting member including an upper threaded inner circumferential wall to engage threadedly said second threaded outer circumference, and a lower threaded inner circumferential wall to engage threadedly said first threaded outer circumference.   
     
     
       2. The umbrella shaft as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second outer circumferences are embossed.